Welcome back to my educational series Walk With a Witch. This segment is on the lovely kukui nut (Aleurites moluccana), the state tree of Hawai’i. The kukui is prized for its nuts, which when processed, produce valuable oil that can be used in numerous applications. During my recent travels to Hawai’i I was inspired by this towering beauty and wanted to learn more about the culturally significant kukui nut tree.
Also known as the Candlenut, kukui was originally distributed by aborigines throughout the pacific islands and is now found all over the area. Although not native to Hawai’i, it has been around on the islands for so long that it is a well-established part of Hawaiian culture. The tree grows up to 80 feet tall, with silvery–green leaves, sporting 3-5 lobed leaves about 4-8 inches long. This pale, silvery-green color is caused by a thick covering of stellate hairs, which often diminishes as the leaf ages. The leaves have wavy margins and are arranged alternately on the branch. Where the leaf stalk joins the blade of the leaf there is a pair of glands that produce a sweet secretion. The seeds are formed inside a tough black shell that resembles a walnut.
The kukui can be found throughout Hawaiian mythology but one of the stories I found most interesting was of Kamapua’a, the Hawaiian demi-god of fertility. Kamapua’a, or ‘hog child’, was said to have pursued a romantic relationship with the goddess of fire, Pele. This relationship was volatile and they often fought. Kamapua’a ultimately won many of their love spats, turning her lava rock into fertile soil. The demigod split the island territories with Pele, leaving her with the areas covered in lava rock, including Kona and Ka‘u, and he rules the areas with the most rain, including Hāmākua, Hilo, and Kohala. It is said that Kamapua’a would be able to take the form of the kukui nut tree before changing back into his half-hog, half-man form. The tree is considered to be the kinolau, or vegetable form, of Kamapua‘a, and so a pig’s head carved from kukui wood is placed on the altar to Lono at the annual Makahiki festival.
Kukui nuts are used in a wide variety of treatments in Hawaiian culture. One main use is to supply omega-3 oil to one’s diet. Others use it in crushed or roasted form to relieve constipation. The sap from the trees is used to help heal insect bites, sores, and chapped lips. It is also used in mashed or liquefied form with ulu (breadfruit sap) to heal open wounds. Another treatment the Kahuna (the healer) used the kukui for is known as an “opening”, or a purging. This purging was administered to prepare the patient for the positive actions of the medicines that were to be administered after, much like a cleansing in our modern vocabulary. The crushed nut was given to induce both vomiting and as an enema.
Not only does the kukui nut have many medicinal uses, but also because of its significance to the Hawaiian people it is found throughout many aspects of their culture. It is known as the candlenut because of its ability to carry fire well. You can light the nut by itself or you can use the oil for candles and torches. The oil is also used to finish canoe parts and the wood is used for building. One of the places you may have seen a kukui nut the most is in traditional Hawaiian leis. The nuts are sanded smooth and then coated to make them shiny, then strung with other significant flowers and leaves to make a beautiful necklace.
I use the oil of the kukui nut in many of my creations. It is beneficial for the skin because it contains linoleic and alpha-linoleic fatty acids, which are essential building blocks for ceramides, one of the skin's main moisturizing elements. This oil is readily absorbed into the skin, providing tissues the essential elements that it needs. Add this oil to your homemade salves, lotions or oils for a taste of tropical healing!
Want to learn more??? Journey into the world of the Rogue Witch:
A modern day alchemist and herbal artist, Pacific Northwest born and raised witch Laura Ursula Quinn spends her days dreaming up concoctions of herbal remedies and natural skin care products. The Rogue Witch is passionate about sharing her love of herbal medicine and helping others with her uniquely crafted herbal and witchery goods imparted with her very own magic. Enthralled with the magic of the woods, Ursula can often be found out collecting plants, dipping her toes in creeks, and scavenging for treasures.
